F1 Update: Red Bull Set to Shake Things Up, with $160 Million Star driver Sergio Perez’s Future in Jeopardy as Team Considers Changes.

Sergio Perez’s Red Bull F1 Future Announcement Expected Imminently As More Details Emerge

The announcement regarding Sergio Perez’s future with Red Bull Racing is anticipated to be made this week, as more details surrounding his situation have emerged.

Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s senior advisor, has indicated that an announcement about the 2025 driver lineups for both Red Bull and its sister team, VCARB, will be made shortly. The decision arrives in the wake of a challenging 2024 season for the Mexican driver, whose performance has sparked discussions about potential changes in Red Bull’s roster.

During the 2024 season, Red Bull witnessed a strong beginning with Max Verstappen securing seven wins out of the first ten races. However, Sergio Perez faced difficulties after achieving four podium finishes in the initial five Grands Prix, with a noticeable decline in performance post the Chinese Grand Prix.

This downturn coincided with impressive showings from rival teams McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes. Although Red Bull extended Perez’s contract by two seasons, his post-summer performances did not meet expectations, as balance issues with the RB20 affected both him and Verstappen. Consequently, Red Bull lost its championship lead, falling behind McLaren and Ferrari in the standings.

Verstappen secured his fourth championship title in Las Vegas, contrasting sharply with Perez’s eighth-place finish in the standings. This significant performance gap between the two drivers has prompted Red Bull to consider alternative options for their driver lineup. Marko has denied rumors about substantial payouts to Perez, calling such speculation “complete nonsense.”

Marko explained in his column for Speedweek:

“We will be announcing news in the next few days about what the driver pairing will look like next year. There is a lot of speculation and transfer fees are being mentioned that are complete nonsense.”

The possibility of new talent stepping into the fray is under serious consideration, with Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson emerging as potential candidates for promotion.

Tsunoda’s post-season test in Red Bull’s RB20 has provided valuable insights into his capabilities. Marko added:

“During the post-season tests, Yuki Tsunoda was allowed to take to the track in the RB20 and the team was happy with his technical feedback. In this respect, he is far better than people give him credit for.”

Adding pressure to the Mexican driver, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner recently explained the importance of having two strong drivers. He said:

“I think you can see the importance of having two drivers scoring on a regular and collective basis in the constructors’ championship is crucial.

“Ferrari will be strong with their lineup next year, McLaren have a strong lineup. Mercedes will have an inexperienced driver in one of their seats.

“And so, for us, it’s very important that we have both of our drivers are delivering, and there’s not a significant gap.”